Current-collector for electrical machines.



No. 633,972. Patented Sept. 26, I899. B. e. LAMME.

CURRENT COLLECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINES.

(Application filed June a, 1899.)-

{No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT Genres BENJAMIN G. LAMME, OF PI'I"SBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

CURRENT-COLLECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,972, dated September 26, 1899.

Application filed June 5, 1899. Serial No. 719,429. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN G. LAMME, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usef ul Improvement in Current-Collectors for Electrical Machines, (Case No. 837,) of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to electrical machines, and particularly to the rings employed on alternatii'ig-current generators and motors in cooperation with brushes for receiving or giving off current. Y

The object of my invention is to provide a collector-ring which shall have sufficient current-carrying capacity for any variety of work and which shall at the same time be so c011- structed as to dissipate the heat generated therein and prevent the transfer of such heat to the insulation between adjacent rings and between each ring and the shaft or sleeve on which it is mounted.

Prior to my invention difficulty was experienced in connection with the use of this class of apparatus by reason of the fact that the heat generated in the collector-rings was communicated to the insulation in such a quantity and to such a degree as to either destroy it or to cause it to shrink and warp to such an extent as to interfere with, if not interrupt, the operation of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of an armatureshaft provided with four collector-rings constructed in accordance with my invention, the rings and their supporting-sleeve being shown in section and portions of the rings being broken away. Fig. 2 is a partial end elevation of an. electrical machine provided with my invention.

The details of construction illustrated in the drawings are as follows: The shaft 1, which may be the armature-shaft of an alternating-current generator or motor or rotary transformer, is provided with a sleeve 2, closely fitted thereon, the sleeve having an annular flange 3 at one end and being screwthreaded at the other end to receive a nut & for clamping together the parts carried by this portion of. the shaft.

1 Mounted upon the shaft 1 is a plurality of collector-rings 5, four of such rings being shown in the drawings. Obviously the n u 1nber may be greater or less than that shown, though at least two will always be employed in practice. Each ring 5 comprises a rim 6 of sufficient cross-sectional area to carry the current for the machine in connection with which it is to be used, a supporting-band 7, and a number of supporting and conducting arms 8, interposed between the rim 6 and the band 7. Each band 7 is preferably formed in two concentric parts joined by radial arms '7. At least one of the arms 7 for each ring is provided with a screw-threaded opening for the reception of the inner end of a rod 9, these rods being provided with suitable means for connecting the distributing or supply conductors thereto. In the structure shown in the drawings four rods 9-one for each ring are employed, they being severally of such length as to reach and extend through the corresponding collector-rings. The shortest and the longest of these rods are shown in Fig. 1, the two others of different but intermediate length being localed in a plane at right angles to that of the two shown, and consequently not appearing in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Any desired number of rods may be employed in connection with each ring, according to the cuwent-carrying capacity needed.

Interposed between the ring 5 and the sleeve 2 on which they are mounted is a cylindrical body of insulating material 10 of sufficient resistance to withstand the electrical strains to which it may be subjected.

lVhile it will usually be found convenient and desirable to make each ring 5 as a single casting, it is of course feasible and within the scope of my invention to make it of two or more parts and to bolt or otherwise fasten such parts together. By employing the construction last indicated it is obviously possible to locate the insulation differently from what is shown in the drawings.

i Adjacent to the outcrside of each end ring and between the adjacent inner sides of the rings are insulating-plates 11 of such composition and dimensions as will prevent the es tablishine' of short circuits. The brushes 1'22 cooperating with these rings may be oi any form and dimensions suitable for the Work.

It will be readily seen from the foregoing description and illustration that the construction of the collectonrings is such thatthe heat generated therein will be substantially confined to the rim (5 by reason of the open-Work character of the device and the fact that the arms 8 will serve to a greater or less extent as fan-blades to produce a circulation of air and thus keep down the temperature Within safe limits.

I desire it to be understood that the number and form of the supporting-arms and the construction of the rings and insulation in general may be varied without departing from my invention.

1 claim as my in\ *ention-- 1. A. collector-ring for electrical machines comprisinga contact-ring, a supporting-band and intermediate conducting and supporting arms.

2. An electric-current giving or receiving rings each comprising a band, a contact-rini and intervening arms, and a plurality of insulating-rings alternating with said collectorrings.

(5. The combination with the shaft of an electrical machine, of a plurality of collectorrings each com prising a band, a contact-rim and supportingarms, and conducting-rods for connecting" said rings to supply or distributing conductors.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3d day-of June, D99.

BENJ. G. LziiliME.

\Vitnesses:

WEsLEY CARR, H. C. TENER. 

